Karpathos Reviews - Page 1

Here is our section with reviews of Karpathos. People who have actually visited Karpathos write about their holiday experiences, what they did and saw there, their activities, where they stayed and give advice on things to do and to avoid.

You have also visited Karpathos? If you want to write a review about Karpathos in our website, you first have to sign in (free) our community or just log in your account, if you are already a member. Before getting published, reviews have to be approved by our editing department. Any review with abusive or inappropriate language will not be published.

Make sure to rent a car because you HAVE to see all the beaches in this wonderful island. Karpathos is a place where there are not that much trees, all beaches are different, there are rocks, sand, wind, and no wind, warm and cold water. So there is something for everyone. If you need parties and a lot of restaurants, make sure you stay in the capital - Pigadia. We stayed in Amoopi and we think it is the best place in Karpthos. I also think a good place to stay is Arkassa, maybe better than Amoopi, because it has everything - markets, restaurants and good beaches. Apella, Achata and Kyra Panagia are beaches in the north and there are natural shade. As you go south there is less and less natural shade. But you can always take your umbrella. The road is good, and all the beaches except Kyra Panagia are wonderful, Kyra was a big disappointment - realy cold water and crazy hot sand were awful. But Apella, Achata, Diakoftis, Damatria, Amoopi, Agios Nikolaos Arkssa, Agios Theodoros, Agrilaopotamos, Michaliou Kipos... the best beaches ever! We found warm water only in Amoopi and Damatria, and maybe Achata, but the rest of beaches usually have colder, cold and really cold water. But it is clean, clear water with amazing colors. Strongest wind is in Damatria and Agrilaopotamos. Read the reviews of the beaches and go to Karpathos as soon as possible!

We stayed in a room 1 km from Pigadia, the capital of Karpathos and wandered around town to grab a bite and also pick up a few gifts at the souvenir shops. Nice town beach. But that was before we got to visit some of the other beaches in Karpathos. Those were simply awesome! Don't miss Apella Beach. It is located 15 km north of Pigadia, and is set in a wonderful mountain scenery. Great for a relaxing day and there is a lovely taverna, too. Then, there is also the sandy beach of Kyra Panagia, a wonderfully clean and organized beach with an equally breathtaking landscape and a quaint chapel.

The next day, we took a boat from Town to Diafini, which included a bus trip to Olympos (for 22 Euros). The village of Olympos is perched high on the mountain and some of the buildings overlook the sea. In all the Greek islands, we have visited so far (and we have visited quite a few!), we had arrived at the rather disconcerting conclusion that Greece was tending to look less Greek with every passing year. But, Olympos did make us feel that all was not lost yet! Several of the men in the village wore brown pants and sported a moustache, while the women were dressed in traditional clothes that are only seen on postcards today. We walked till the old windmills and enjoyed the view. Also Karpathos is obviously good for windsurfing on the south western side and we attended a windsurfing championship while we were there in July.

There was a lot to read on the Internet and in travel guides about Karpathos. The only thing that I would have liked and that I couldn't find was a map showing the location of accommodation in Lefkos. The apartments we eventually chose were quite a walk from the village and we would probably not have gone there if we had known. On the plus side, they were extremely well appointed and we were looked after very well by the owner.

The good thing in Karpathos is the lack of excessive tourism, the natural beauty of the island and the beaches, that all seem to be very different from each other. The people are, without exception, extremely friendly and helpful. Whilst we appeared to be the only British people on the island, English was the predominant language, many of the islanders having worked in the USA for a period.

All the meals we had in Karpathos were good, but some restaurants stood out. The Small Garden, between Lefkos and Potali Bay was perhaps the most authentically Greek, and the food was constantly good. Potalu Bay Pizza Restaurant was also high on our list of recommendations. We also dined regularly at the restaurant in the hotel Krinos, where the food was good, and there was Greek Dancing almost every night. The best meatballs I have ever had in Greece were served to me one lunchtime at the beach bar in Achata bay.

Just keep the tourist numbers down. At the moment it is a paradise, but it could so easily be swamped by tourists, turning it into yet another carbon copy Mediterranean resort. Go soon, while it still feels "Greek".

I had heard many good things about Karpathos but I thought that other islands should come first, more famous and more developed than Karpathos. Wrong! It turned out that Karpathos has all we wanted from holidays plus calm atmosphere plus gorgeous landscape. The plane took only 1 hour to go from Athens to Karpathos, but book at least two months before because itineraries are not that frequent, not even in summer. We travelled with Olympic, no problem. Outside the airport, there was a small car waiting for us. We always book a car on holidays, I hate relaying on buses in Greece. When they are not late, they are packed. Sometimes, they are both. Be sure to have enough days to see the island and relax the same time. I suggest a week, or ten days the most.

Top places are Lefkos (where our hotel), Makrigialos (a gorgeous beach for windsurfing, in fact there was a windsurf competition at out stay) and Olympos, the most beautiful village in Greece. A village on an island, but still it looked like a village in the mountains. Covered with clouds, Olympos was like a place of fairytales! No hotels, no tourism, the locals take good care of their home so that it will not be corrupted from greedy tourists. Women wear their traditional costumes even in regular days and every house was different, like a piece of art. Amazing place, amazing!! Afer Olympos, go to Diafani for fresh fish and a long walk at the beach.

You might like to believe that the souvenirs you purchase in Olympos are locally produced. Who knows? Some of them may be. But on our most recent trip, the honey we bought was very generic - very unlike the "thyme" scented honey we were used to getting in our many years of visit. We are fairly certain that it was not from Karpathos. Alas, we would no longer purchase honey, olive oil or even the scented sachets there.

Karpathos is a very quiet and pleasant island, with many beautiful beaches and very nice villages. The environment is very varied: sand beaches and cliffs, pinewoods and arid, sunburnt areas, organized beach resorts and wonderful little bays. Every taste is catered for: you can just swim and take sun baths, or go hiking through mountain woods, visiting little and picturesque villages. Beaches are among the cleanest I have seen in Greece. People in Karpathos are very hospitable and truly nice, even for the Greek standards which are very high! They always make you feel at ease. If you arrive in a village during one of the many village feasts, you will be offered food and wine as if you were a member of the family...

Food is simply great! Dolmadaki and loukoumades are a must, taste them! Restaurants are nice and never too expensive (remarkably cheaper than in other Greek islands I have visited). Dining in smaller taverns is particularly pleasant. In planning your trips around the island, especially if you are using a motorbike, keep in mind that you can get a petrol pump only in Pigadia. Karpathos is not huge, but you do risk to find yourself without fuel. And don't forget a sun protection: the sun is very strong in Karpathos, and because of the wind you may not even notice that you are turning in a well-done souvlaki before it's too late...

Unfortunatly every single beach in the island is full with umbrellas and sunbeds. Of course this is not a nice view for people who admire that otherwise beautiful island. I have been many times in Karpathos but I am not going there again due to ugly environment of the beaches with umbrellas and sunbeds. Even we did not have space for us who do not wish sunbeds. The most tragic is that it happens in the 3 most beautiful beaches Kyra Panagia, Apella and specially Ahata. It is a shame for the island such conditions on those unique beaches. It appears to me that the Karpathians they don't really care too much about the impression given to the visitors of the island. For how long do they believe that tourists will be interested in beaches full of sunbeds???

Yes, I have been in Karpathos in the last 15 years and I have seen closely the "development" of the island. Nearly all the beaches you can reach by road are almost full of umprellas and sunbeds.I can mention Kyra Panagia, Ahata (there it is impossible to find free space if you don't want to have sunbed), Apella, Ammopi(both the large and the small), St. Nikolas in Spoa and St. Nikolas in Arkassa, Lefkos (all the three beaches), Christou Pigadi and the beaches around there, Brontos beach in Pigadia etc. Until now the only free of sunbeds beaches are those around the airport. But it is a question of time when those will be "organised" and "developed" as well. Of course there are lonly beaches that you can reach by boat or they are to be founded far away from the civilisation.

Yes I totally agree! where ever there is an inch of beach there is an umbrella there and they charge for it. I guess they looking to make money. It's sad and I don't understand why its allowed. Some times when you just need space for your towel you can't find it and it becomes frustrating. Karpathos was great a couple of years ago with no umbrellas, but now the beaches have changed. At least I would like the person renting the umbrellas to also clean the cigarett butts from the sand as the beaches are turning out be on large ashtray.

thanks for thathelpful review.
led by a (3y old) travel guide i was headed for Karpathos in search of unspoiled nature but after reading this it is A NO GO
the word DEVELOPMENT makes me shiver with disgust.
The destructive force of the greedy "developers" is worse than war. I could only hope that the economy crisis deepens and lasts for decades. there is no a single beach left in the entire Europe that is not "developed", globalized and exploited beyond recognition. sad times

I'm really sorry to read this about Karpathos. I was there about four years aho and the island was like a paradise lost, with lonely, lovely beaches and a great nature. When I was back in Italy, I had just enthusiastic words about the island and was planning to visit it again in august, but if it's so changed, I prefer to keep in my mind the images of my previous visit and goin' elsewhere

Sound of the Sea

5 / 5 stars
Rate:

Posted bymdgibson on 16 Jun 2009

Category:Karpathos General

A small apartment complex, just outside Pigadia (Karpathos city).
I was born on the island of Mauritius and my husband in Holland, we lived most of our live in South Africa, we have seen a lot of the world and Greece but this beats everything we ever stayed.
Small scale apartment complex run by mother, father, daughter.
What a hospitality we found there I thought that was a thing from the past !
If you look for rest, cleanness and quietness this is the place to go .
A nice complex with big apartments and nice big balconies all with full sea view, a big saltwater pool and a small but good restaurant bar (mama does all the cooking her self).
The owners speak English, France and Greek [they spent some time in Canada] which makes life even more easy as a foreigner .
I say we found a little paradise on a beautiful island .

I suggest travel guides not to advertise Karpathos too much because the island will lose this special beauty it has! For me this was a unique island!!! After the Cyclades that look very much to each other, Karpathos was a special experience. You will love it the moment you see it. Pigadia can be a little noisy in weekends, but the rest villages are excellent.

All villages are beautiful but Olympos is unbelievable! Like a dream in the clouds. It is difficult to go up but when you are there, you don't want to go down again. We were in Olympos every other day for a coffee in the square. An excursion to Saria may be good for tourists, but do not expect much, there are no beaches, only some goats on this small islet and some old ruins, probably from houses, I don't know. Swim in all the beaches of Karpahtos, not one will disappoint you, but swim with scandals because some can have rocky bed. Hotels are nice but do not expect something luxurious, just the typical apartmnents with friendly owners.

I have been to Karpathos three times so far and maybe I go again in the future. This is a wonderful island and not that expensive as most Greek islands. It is a good value and services are really good. White Castle was our hotel for two summers and we were very satisfied. The villages of Karpahtos are unique, each one has its special charecteristics. Do not miss Olympos and Menetes. Beaches are not the best in Greece, but they are so relaxing. Especially in off season (June and September), you will enjoy all calmness you need in Karpathos. Transport on the island is poor and too bad. I suggest you rent a car. Our car rental is in Finiki, Mrs Katerina always takes care of us and last time, she gave us a day free (we rented the car for a week). Banks and pharmacies in Karpathos are only found in Pigadia, the capial. Also know that very few stores an restaurants accept credit cards, so be prepared and have cash with you.